Brighton 'Connects' For Repeat Run
April 12, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
In the moment, Brighton’s run last month to its latest Division 1 ice hockey championship felt a lot like the successful title chases in 2012, 2013 and 2017.
But now that the most recent victory has had some time to marinate, there’s no question – what the Bulldogs accomplished to close this winter was just a little different.
One team generally isn’t a measuring stick for the rest. But most aren’t the Detroit Catholic Central hockey program. The Shamrocks entered the Division 1 Semifinals on March 9 at USA Hockey Arena perfect against in-state competition this winter and riding a six-game shutout streak that began with an 8-0 win over eventual Division 2 champion Hartland. DCC had won 10 of the last 18 Division 1 titles and finished runner-up in 2017 to Brighton, the last Michigan high school team to topple the Shamrocks.
DCC wasn’t expected to have trouble this time – many of its scores against other top Michigan teams this season were jaw dropping. And Brighton, although the reigning champion, had lost twice to Hartland this winter, and the Eagles clearly had their troubles with the Shamrocks.
Yet the Bulldogs believed, and they pulled it off – avenging an earlier 3-0 loss and stunning the top-ranked Shamrocks 2-1 in a Semifinal. Emotionally running toward empty, the MHSAA/Applebee’s March “Team of the Month” then came back the next day and defeated Saginaw Heritage 5-2 to repeat as Division 1 champion.
“Catholic Central always has been the team. Just look at what they’ve accomplished,” Brighton coach Paul Moggach said. “That’s the bar. You can get over it once in a while. But we’re starting to feel like we are at that level … that maybe we can be that team. The belief in yourself maybe has arrived, that we’re good enough to do this on a regular basis.”
Brighton, which entered the postseason ranked No. 3 in Division 1, finished 25-6-1 this winter. Its lone losses were to DCC on Dec. 16, twice to league rival Hartland, and once apiece to Northville, Livonia Stevenson and Cleveland St. Ignatius.
The Bulldogs are used to facing Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and then DCC during the Division 1 tournament – they previously beat DCC in the 2013 and 2017 championship games and finished runners-up to the Shamrocks in 2014 and 2016. This time, Brighton beat No. 2 St. Mary’s 3-1 in a Regional Final and got DCC one game earlier than usual.
Boasting 10 seniors – including four who had goals or assists in the 2017 Final – Brighton took on the underdog “mask,” as Moggach put it, but despite the expected nerves also had “an incredible level of confidence in ourselves and to give to each other.”
Seniors Adam Conquest and Mathew Kahra scored Brighton’s goals in the Semifinal, both on power plays, and Kahra scored again in the championship game. Sophomore Will Jentz had two goals in the Final, and junior Evan MacDonald and freshman Nate Przysiecki both added one. Junior goalie Harrison Fleming had a combined 44 saves on 47 shots over the weekend.
With time to reflect the last few weeks, Moggach has begun to notice a few things about this run that maybe didn’t pop out entirely at the time – like Brighton’s incredible 17-2 record in road or neutral-site games. He also is able to look back fondly on the “connection” among members of this team – something built on the ice, sure, and during trips like the one to the Upper Peninsula featured on Second Half in January. But he found it created most during off-ice strength and conditioning workouts where a culture of togetherness was emphasized and formed – and that surely paid off in last month’s repeat rise.
“That’s the difference maker,” said Moggach, who has led the program 23 seasons. “I’ve been around the game a long time. I think early in my coaching career, and in most coaching careers, you’re figuring out how to get the Xs and Os done, figuring out power plays and penalty kills and things. And then, how to beat teams (that are more) talented.
“But how to bring it together, it’s a maturation of ideas. … The last couple of years, we’ve really built to a point; we put the work in, we enjoy each other, we complement each other, and I think that brings connections. Then we do things like the trip to the U.P. – we’re not celebrating ourselves, but each other. You start giving more to each other, it comes back in spades, and we’re realizing that as a group and as a program.”
Past Teams of the Month, 2017-18
February: Marquette girls and boys skiing - Report
January: Sterling Heights Stevenson competitive cheer - Report
December: Cadillac boys bowling - Report
November: Ottawa Lake Whiteford football - Report
October: Beaverton volleyball - Report
September: Shepherd girls golf - Report
PHOTO: Brighton co-captain Sam Brennan (5) presents the championship trophy to his teammates after last month’s Division 1 Final at USA Hockey Arena.
Preview: Major Changes, Potential for Ice Champions New & Old On Display
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
March 9, 2023
This weekend’s MHSAA Hockey Semifinals and Finals will show off two of the most significant changes this sport has seen in some time in Michigan – with the potential for more “new” when trophies are presented Saturday.
A new classification system equally splitting up standalone and cooperative programs has moved some annual powers into different divisions. And also for the first time, the four semifinalists were reseeded for the final two games in each bracket.
At least two champions will be new this season, as the reigning Division 2 winner Hartland is now in Division 1 and last season’s Division 3 champion did not return. Additionally, seven of 12 teams playing at USA Hockey Arena are seeking a first Finals title, and an eighth – Houghton – its first since 1982.
Division 1 – Friday
#1 Detroit Catholic Central (27-1) vs #4 Forest Hills Central (17-12) - 5 p.m.
#2 Hartland (22-6) vs #3 Brighton (21-7) - 7:30 p.m.
Division 2 - Thursday
#1 Byron Center (27-1) vs #4 Detroit U-D Jesuit (14-13) - 5 p.m.
#2 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice (19-9) vs #3 Saginaw Heritage (16-11) - 7:30 p.m.
Division 3 - Friday
#1 Houghton (26-2) vs #4 East Grand Rapids (15-11-2) - 11 a.m.
#2 Riverview Gabriel Richard (20-7-1) vs #3 Flint Powers Catholic (21-6) - 1:30 p.m.
Saturday – Finals
Division 1 - 7:05 p.m.
Division 2 - 11:05 a.m.
Division 3 - 3:05 p.m.
All Semifinals and Finals will be streamed live on MHSAA.tv and viewable with subscription, with free audio broadcasts via the MHSAA Radio Network. For information on tickets and more, go to the Ice Hockey page – and see below for a glance at all 12 contenders.
Division 1
#1 DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL
Record/rank: 27-1, No. 1
Championship history: Sixteen MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Brandon Kaleniecki, eighth season (188-29-2)
League finish: First in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 7-1 over No. 2 Hartland, 2-1 over No. 3 Brighton, 4-1 over No. 4 Clarkston, 5-0 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 6-2 and 6-3 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-2 over Division 3 No. 1 Houghton, 6-0 over Division 3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-1 and 3-1 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Landon West, sr. F (25 goals, 17 assists); Ryan Wantuck, sr. F (7 goals, 26 assists); Griffin Crampton, sr. F (9 goals, 23 assists); Andrew Urbain, sr. F (18 goals, 11 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Detroit Catholic Central is playing for a fourth-straight Division 1 championship (not counting 2020, when the Finals were canceled due to COVID-19), and the Shamrocks are the favorite this weekend given their results against the rest of the best this winter. They haven’t allowed a goal over three playoff games, and senior goalies Luca Naurato and Kyle Moore have combined for 14 shutouts. The lone loss came 2-1 to Green Bay (Wis.) Notre Dame. West and Wantuck made the all-state first team last season, and there is plenty of scoring to go around as junior Nolan Galda had 15 goals and junior Cael Rogowski had 14 entering the postseason, while junior Jackson Walsh had nine and 21 assists and Galda (11), Rogowski (10) and senior defensemen Jason Spiegel (14) and Nate Grondzieleski (22) also had reached double-digit assists by regular season’s end.
#2 HARTLAND
Record/rank: 22-6, No. 2
Championship history: Three MHSAA titles (most recent 2022), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Rick Gadwa, 12th season (254-72-13)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association West
Best wins: 6-1 over No. 4 Clarkston in Regional Final, 3-0 over No. 7 Salem, 4-3 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 (SO) over No. 3 Brighton, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 1 Byron Center, 4-2 over Division 2 No. 2 Marquette, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 6-5 over Division 3 No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic, 4-1 over Division 3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard.
Players to watch: Ben Pouliot, sr. F (15 goals, 20 assists); Braden Pietila, sr. D (14 goals, 14 assists); Jack L’Esperance, sr. F (28 goals, 26 assists); Lucas Henry, sr. F (12 goals, 28 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Hartland won last season’s Division 2 championship and three of the last four before making the jump this winter. The Eagles started with losses to DCC and Stevenson before catching stride with seven straight wins, and they’ve won 11 straight against in-state opponents since falling to Brighton in the rivals’ second meeting 5-4. Pouliot, Pietila and L’Esperance made the all-state first team last season, L’Esperance as a defenseman although he’s centering the second line now. Sophomore Ian Kastamo had added eight goals and 24 assists heading into the playoffs, with senior Jacob Lewis (12/17) and junior LJ Sabala (4/10) also providing offensive boosts from the wings and senior Isaac Frantti (3/22) and freshman Eli Sturos (5/16) setting teammates up well from their spots on defense.
#3 BRIGHTON
Record/rank: 21-7, No. 3
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2018), three runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kurt Kivisto, third season (53-18-4)
League finish: First in KLAA West and overall
Best wins: 3-2 (2OT – Quarterfinal), 4-2 and 4-2 over No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 5-4 (OT) and 5-3 over No. 7 Salem, 5-4 (OT) over No. 2 Hartland, 7-6 over No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 2-1 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 7-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 2-1 over Division 3 No. 5 Detroit Country Day.
Players to watch: Cameron Duffany, jr. F (29 goals, 29 assists); Lane Petit, jr. F (28 goals, 17 assists); Mattix McMullen, sr. D (3 goals, 25 assists); Levi Pennala, jr. G (2.31 goals-against average).
Outlook: Last season’s Division 1 runner-up has strung together an impressive run over six straight wins with those over Stevenson twice, once against Jesuit and Brother Rice and in playoff shutouts of Ann Arbor Pioneer and Saline. Duffany, McMullen and Pennala all made the all-state first team last season, while Petit made the second. Seniors Dominic Vincent (13 goals/18 assists), Evan Wohlart (12/15) and Dylan Hunt (8/10); and juniors Charlie Burchfield (10/9) and Aiden Seiter (3/14) add more scoring punch to the top lines.
#4 GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS CENTRAL
Record/rank: 17-12, unranked
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Bill McSween, third season (36-38)
League finish: Fifth in Ottawa-Kent Conference Baum
Best wins: 3-1 (Regional Final) and 3-1 over No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 3-0 over Mattawan, 3-0 over East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Sammy Mielock, sr. F (38 goals, 25 assists); Benny Mielock, fr. F (15 goals, 11 assists); Gibson Grendel, soph. D (6 goals, 24 assists); Anthony Ott, sr. F (12 goals, 6 assists).
Outlook: This will be the Rangers’ first trip to the Semifinals since 1987 and comes after they played in Division 3 last season. Forest Hills Central is 12-1 over its last 13 games and has avenged early losses to Mona Shores, East Grand Rapids and Jenison. Sammy Mielock made the all-state second team last season and gets some additional offensive help from junior Owen Barber (8 goals/12 assists) and sophomore Rocco Gonzalez (6/15). Junior Peter Nemmers is expected to start in net and has a 1.77 goals-against average and five shutouts.
Division 2
#1 BYRON CENTER
Record/rank: 27-1, No. 1
Championship history: Division 2 runner-up 2021.
Coach: Jordan Steger, first season (27-1)
League finish: First in O-K Rue.
Best wins: 4-2 (Regional Final) and 4-1 over No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 4-1 over No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 2-1 over No. 2 Marquette, 4-1 over Division 1 No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 7-0 over Division 1 No. 6 Lake Orion, 6-3 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 4-0 and 4-2 over Division 3 No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 4-1 over Division 3 No. 3 Flint Powers Catholic.
Players to watch: Jackson Froysland, jr. F (21 goals, 35 assists); Josh Philo, sr. D (7 goals, 14 assists); Brady Breit, sr. F (23 goals, 22 assists); Carson MacKenzie, sr. G (1.25 goals-against average, .934 save %).
Outlook: After a Quarterfinal loss last season to eventual champion Hartland, Byron Center has stormed back and then some with its only defeat this winter to the Eagles – who are now in Division 1. Froysland, Philo, Breit and MacKenzie all made the all-state second team last season. Byron Center is averaging 5.6 goals per game, with senior Logan Nickolaus (24 goals/26 assists), junior Cade Pratt (12/37), senior Eli Kamminga (15/15) and junior Ben Passeno (10/13) also putting up double-digit goals and junior Dalton Clark (3/15) and senior Matthew Brougham (4/12) among assists leaders. Steger served as an assistant for three seasons before taking over the program this winter.
#2 BLOOMFIELD HILLS BROTHER RICE
Record/rank: 19-9, No. 4
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2021), two runner-up finishes.
Coach: Kenny Chaput, seventh season (123-56-9)
League finish: Second in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League North
Best wins: 9-2 over No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 6-0 over No. 6 Trenton, 4-2 over No. 2 Marquette, 4-1 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 4-3 and 2-1 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
Players to watch: Peter Rosa, sr. F (32 goals, 42 assists); Andrew Marone, sr. F (40 goals, 34 assists); Caiden Ramos, jr. F (10 goals, 17 assists); Jack Cassidy, sr. F (11 goals, 17 assists).
Outlook: After winning Division 2 in 2021, Brother Rice finished up in the Semifinals last season but again is paced by multi-season all-staters Rosa and Marone – who made the first and second teams, respectively, last winter. They and Cassidy make up an intimidating top line, while Ramos centers the second. Johnny Kunz (19), Andrew Lindsay (15) and Roman Villaire (10) are among assists leaders, the first two making up the top defensive pair. The Warriors have won nine of their last 10 games against in-state opponents, the lone defeat during that string to Division 1 contender Brighton in the regular-season finale.
#3 SAGINAW HERITAGE
Record/rank: 16-11, No. 5
Championship history: Division 1 runner-up 2019 and 2018.
Coach: JJ Bamberger, 15th season (262-118-11)
League finish: Second in Saginaw Valley League
Best wins: 4-1 over No. 3 Alpena in Quarterfinal, 4-0 (Regional Final) and 3-0 over No. 9 Midland, 6-2 over No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 8-5 over Division 1 No. 8 Muskegon Mona Shores, 5-2 over Division 1 No. 7 Salem, 1-0 over Division 3 No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central.
Players to watch: Mason Cole, sr. C/D (20 goals, 35 assists); Cole Winter, sr. RW (15 goals, 17 assists); Owen Turner, jr. D (16 goals, 19 assists); Ethan Westendorf, sr. F (10 goals, 15 assists).
Outlook: Heritage is back for the first time since that most recent runner-up season of 2019 but won’t see anything too unfamiliar after playing a schedule that included games over 16 teams ranked at the end of the regular season. The Quarterfinal win over Alpena avenged a 3-2 loss from Jan. 14. Junior Owen Gohm (12 goals/8 assists) centers the top line, and junior forward Nolan Drapp (9/14) also is among top scorers. Cole and Turner are expected to make up the top defense pair this weekend, but Cole played most of the season at center.
# DETROIT U-D JESUIT
Record/rank: 14-13, No. 10
Championship history: Has never appeared in an MHSAA Final.
Coach: Paul Moretz, second season (22-32)
League finish: Third in Michigan Interscholastic Hockey League South
Best wins: 2-1 (OT - Quarterfinal), 6-3 and 4-3 over No. 6 Trenton, 7-2 over Livonia Churchill in Regional Final, 7-3 over Division 3 No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 4-1 over East Grand Rapids.
Players to watch: Aiden Charron, jr. F (16 goals/9 assists); Carter Cate, jr. F (15 goals/6 assists); Michael Shubeck, jr. F (3 goals, 15 assists); Nolan Davis, soph. D (6 goals/10 assists).
Outlook: Jesuit is headed to the Semifinals for the first time since 2016 in Division 1 and has faced off against many of the best in the state under Moretz, who previously coached Grosse Pointe South and Marysville to similar successes. The Cubs have given up only five goals over three playoff games against 15 scored and are on a four-game winning streak total as they’ve taken a jump from 8-19 in Moretz’ first season leading the program. A total of 11 players have at least six assists, with junior defensemen Henry Balasia also among leaders with nine and senior Jack Widgren (7 goals/7 assists) and junior Thomas Angell (8/6) providing more offensive boost.
Division 3
#1 HOUGHTON
Record/rank: 26-2, No. 1
Championship history: Class B-C-D champion 1982, five runner-up finishes.
Coach: Corey Markham, 24th season (396-163-22)
League finish: First in Great Lakes Hockey Conference
Best wins: 6-0 over Division 1 No. 3 Brighton, 5-1 over Division 1 No. 2 Hartland, 9-4 over Division 1 No. 7 Salem, 5-2 over Division 2 No. 10 Detroit U-D Jesuit, 6-5 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage, 3-0 over Division 2 No. 2 Marquette.
Players to watch: Landon Stevens, sr. F (40 goals, 36 assists); Camden Markham, sr. F (37 goals, 45 assists), Gaborik Carlson, sr. F (15 goals, 42 assists), Michael Maillette, jr. F (32 goals, 21 assists).
Outlook: Perhaps the most impressive part of an incredibly impressive run for the Gremlins is that they’ve faced – and gone 5-1 – against six other teams playing at USA Hockey Arena this weekend, and all six are in Divisions 1 and 2. The two losses came in February, 5-2 to DCC and 4-3 to Division 2 No. 2 Marquette. Houghton has reached the Semifinals six times since its lone championship and finished Division 3 runner-up most recently in 2019. Camden Markham made the all-state first team last season and Carlson made the second. Junior Bryant Lee sees almost all of the action in net and has 1.70 goals-against average and seven shutouts, while senior Sully Rajala (8 goals, 30 assists), sophomore Jace DeForge (12/15) and junior defensemen Connor Raffaelli (3/28) and Wyatt Jenkins (2/10) also have put up some big numbers.
#2 RIVERVIEW GABRIEL RICHARD
Record/rank: 20-7-1, No. 2
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2003, Class B-C-D runner-up 1992.
Coach: Rick Desana, 18th season (260-193-2)
League finish: First in Metro League East
Best wins: 6-1 over No. 10 Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard/Greenhills in Quarterfinal, 4-3 and 3-2 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 6-3 over No. 4 Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 5-0 over Division 1 No. 3 Brighton, 5-1 over Division 2 No. 6 Trenton, 5-4 over Division 2 No. 4 Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice.
Players to watch: Aidan Gonzalez, sr. RW (21 goals, 27 assists); Robbie Chiles, sr. LW (13 goals, 21 assists); Jimmy Monks, sr. LW (24 goals, 53 assists); Brody Kirkpatrick, sr. C (16 goals, 25 assists). (Statistics do not include postseason.)
Outlook: Gabriel Richard is back at the Semifinals for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2018 and 2019 and after winning a sixth-straight Regional title. The Pioneers are on a seven-game winning streak since a 4-3 loss to Flint Powers, their Semifinal opponent. The other six losses were to ranked teams from Division 1 or 2 or an out-of-state opponent. Monks made the all-state first team last season, and Chiles earned an honorable mention. Senior Brenden Paden (19 goals/11 assists) was the second-leading scorer, and senior Nick DiSanto, junior Brendan Brothers and sophomore Tony Venturini also had reached double-digit assists heading into the postseason.
#3 FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 21-6, No. 3
Championship history: Seven runner-up finishes (most recent 2010).
Coach: Travis Perry, 17th season (340-105-21)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League
Best wins: 4-3 (Quarterfinal) and 3-0 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 4-3 No. 2 Riverview Gabriel Richard, 3-1 over No. 9 Chelsea, 8-1 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 4-2 over East Grand Rapids, 6-2 over Division 1 No. 5 Livonia Stevenson, 4-3 over Division 2 No. 9 Midland, 6-3 over Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 5-3 over Division 2 No. 5 Saginaw Heritage.
Players to watch: Mason Czarnecki, sr. F (27 goals, 30 assists); Kyle Barbour, sr. D (8 goals, 28 assists); Cooper Gerhardt, sr. F (12 goals, 25 assists); Nicholas Kurtiak, sr. G (1.76 goals-against average).
Outlook: Powers is making its fourth trip to the Semifinals over the last seven seasons and first since 2021, paced by 11 seniors including the top two goalies and nine who help fill the top four lines. Czarnecki and Barbour made the all-state first team last season, Gerhardt and Kurtiak made the second and senior forward Weston Reinig (8 goals, 17 assists) earned honorable mention as a defenseman. Sophomore Andrew Parmenter (5/14), junior Nolan Berner (12/9), seniors Michael Tucker (16/12) and Jack Dawley (9/8), and junior Brendan Sly (4/12) are just some of the rest who have put up strong numbers.
#4 EAST GRAND RAPIDS
Record/rank: 15-11-2, unranked
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2002.
Coach: Christopher Newton, fifth season (68-52-5)
League finish: Sixth in O-K Baum.
Best wins: 3-1 over No. 7 Traverse Bay Reps in Quarterfinal, 4-2 over No. 6 Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Regional Final, 5-3 over No. 5 Detroit Country Day, 3-1 over Division 2 No. 8 Grand Rapids Christian, 4-0 over Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central.
Players to watch: Ian MacKeigan, jr. F (11 goals, 13 assists); Tyler Sikkenga, sr. F (18 goals, 14 assists); Scotty Millman, jr. F (9 goals, 13 assists); Charlie Hoekstra, jr. F (11 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: East Grand Rapids provides plenty of evidence of the power of playing a strong schedule, going from sixth in its league to its second-straight Regional title and a return to the Semifinals for the third time in five seasons. EGR’s league also includes Division 1 semifinalist Forest Hills Central and two ranked teams, and the Pioneers have strung together seven straight wins including four in the playoffs by a combined 14-5 margin. Sophomore Brady Ross (5 goals/12 assists) is another important offensive contributor.
PHOTO Detroit Catholic Central’s Jackson Walsh (12) sends a shot toward Brighton goalie Levi Pennala during last season’s Division 1 Final.